Knitting machine



Feb 6, 1934. NE 1,945,971

KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1930 3.She ets-Sheet 1 In renter; fluyuslin Gagn. by 17/ Q MK Feb. 6, 1934. GAGNE 1,945,971

KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 19. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y [72 105 22 fo'r flugustin Gayn', by

Feb. 6, 1934. A.. GAGNE 7 1,945,971

' KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 19. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I lnr'entar Uuyuslin Gagn 6,

v flff y engaged and directed or carried between the- Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y 1,945,971 KNITTING MACHINE Augustin Gagn, Central Falls, R. I assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. L, a corporation of Massachusetts This invention relates to a yarn or thread binder for use in connection with knitting ma chines and especially of the type of machine shown in the patent to Hemphill 933,443, September 7, 1909. The improved mechanism herein disclosed so controls threads or yarns withdrawn from feeding relation with respect to the needles for .one or more complete courses, that they are blades of acutter, which is thereafter automatically operated to sever and clamp the said threads or yarns. The mechanism disclosed also serves, during the knitting of the high splice and double sole, to direct the high splice and double sole floats so that they will, with certainty, float across the needle circle and under the binder.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the binder mounted upon a latch ring, showing a thread or yarn withdrawn from feeding relation with respect to the needles and carried or directed to a position to be severed by the cutter;

Fig. 2'is a view in front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the latch ring broken away;

Fig. 3 is a plan .view correspondingto Fig. 1, showing the mechanism directing the high 'splice or double sole floats to pass beneath, and out of contact with, the mechanism for severing the threads or yarns withdrawn from feeding relation with respect to the needles for one or more complete courses.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view correspondin to Fig. 3;

' Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the clamp elevated to receive a withdrawn thread or yarn;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation, corresponding to Figs. 1, 2, and 5, but from the other side of the machine and showing the cutter open or positioned to receive and sever a withdrawn thread Fig. 7 is a view of the binder taken from the same side of the machine as Fig. 5, but with the parts in a position to prevent the high splice and double sole. floats from passing above the binder plate and corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4; and

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation taken from the same side of the machine as Fig. 6 but with the thread cutting mechanism closed and not adapted to sever the high splice and double sole floats.

The numeral 1 designates a latch ring of ordinary construction having an extension 2 by means of which the latch ring is pivotally mounted upon a bracket carried by the machine frame so one end by means of a screw 15 to the bracket that the latch ring, at desired times, may be' swung up to a position clear of the needles, and ribbed tops transferred to the needles, or for any other desired purpose. Attached to the extension- 2 of the latch ring as by screws 3 is a bracket 4. A lever 5 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a pin or screw 6 carried by an upstanding lug 7 on the bracket 4. One arm 8 of the lever 5 is connected to and controlled by means such as cams carried by a pattern drum or other member (not shown), all as usual in Banner and similar types of circular knitting machines and automatically controlled so that the thread cutter and clamp will be operated at the desired times to sever and clamp a thread withdrawn from feeding position for one or more complete courses.

The specific means herein disclosed for automatically severing and clamping a withdrawn thread or yarn, includes a binder plate 9 to which is aflixed a bracket or block 10 to one side of which is pivotally secured at 11 a yarn clamp 12. One arm 13 of the yarn clamp is adapted to be periodically raised from the position of Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 5 by the pattern mechanism hereinbefore described and acting through the lever 5. The aforesaid lever 5 is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. 7 by means of the tension of a spring 14 attached at 4 and at its outer end engaged under a pin 16 fast to, and intermediate the ends of, arm 17 of the lever 5. Pivotally mounted upon the free end of the lever arm 1! by means of a laterally extending pin 18 is a link 19 depending from the said lever arm 17 and at its lower end in turn pivotally connected at 20 to another lever 21, the latter pivoted intermediate its ends at 22 to the block or bracket 10. One arm of the lever 21 rests upon the upper surface or edge of the arm 13 of clamp 12 while the other arm of the said lever 21 is adapted, when depressed by the aforesaid cams or means carried by the pattern drum (not shown) and acting through the lever 5, to engage arm 23 of the lever 12 and depress the said arm thus raising or elevating the thread clamping arm 13 from the position shown in Fig. '7 to that of Fig. 5, which arm 13 when in the last named position is adapted to receive yarn between it and the binder plate 9.

' Referring specifically to Figs. 6, and 8, the thread severing means disclosed consists of a fixed blade 24 attached to the block or bracket 10 as by means of ascrew 25, and a relatively movable, shearing blade 26 pivoted upon the I10 shank of a screw 27 carried by the fixed blade 24 or block 10. Upon the shank of the screw 27 between the head thereof and the movable blade 26 is a spring 28, the latter serving to maintain the movable blade 26 in shearing relation with respect to the fixed blade 24. A pin 29 carried by the movable blade 26 passes through a hole in the spring 28 and maintains the latter in proper position with respect to the said movable blade. The blade 26 is moved or actuated from time to time, as dictated by the mentioned cams upon the pattern drum and acting through the lever 5. The arm 17 of the lever 5 has attached thereto adjacent its outer end a bushing 30 and adjustably passing through a hole in the latter is a link 31, held in adjusted position by means of a set screw 32 in threaded engagement with the bushing 30 and in clamping engagement with the said link 31. At its lower end the link is enlarged at 33 and provided with a hole therethrough. The movable blade 26 has a lug 34 in register with the enlarged terminal of the link 31 and passing through the hole in the link and into threaded engagement with the lug 34, is a screw 35. Periodically, pattern control movements of the lever 5 are communicated to the .movable blade 26 through the connections described and so that the movable blade will be automatically controlled in its movements to receive between it and the fixed blade 24 a thread or yarn withdrawn from feeding position and, upon a return to the relative positions shown in Fig. 8, to sever the said thread or yarn.

Positioned between the clamp 12 and blades 24, 26, is a supplemental thread clamp 36 which serves to hold the float of a withdrawn thread until the aforesaid pattern mechanism releases clamp 12.

A spirally threaded post or shaft 37 is in threaded engagement with the block 10 and rises vertically therefrom and passes through a hole provided in one end of the bracket 4, the latter maintained in proper adjusted position with respect to the shaft 37 by means of internally threaded knurled heads 38 and additionally by a nut 39 and washer 40 surmounting the upper of the two knurled heads 38.

A pin 41 serves to engage severed floats of thread and prevent the same from becoming caught by or entangled with parts carried by or adjacent to the movable blade 26.

Attached to the binder plate 9 as by means of screws 42 is an arm or finger 43 extending a short distance beyond the binder plate 9 at 43 and in cooperative relation with a supplemental, saw-tooth plate 44, the projecting end portion 43' of the said arm 43 serving a useful function as hereinafter set forth. The arm 43, while attached to 'the binder plate 9 at one end, is separated from and parallelly disposed with the said binder plate 9 for the greater portion of its length as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and '7.

The saw-tooth plate or disc 44 is carried by and mounted upon a pin 45 passing centrally through the spiral screw 37 and parts surrounding the same. Adjacent to the upper end of the pin 45 is a knurled collar 46 fixed to the said pin 45 as by a set screw 47. Carried by. thelever arm 17 adjacent one end thereof is a right angled bracket 48, one arm of which, is provided with an elongated slot 49 through which slot passes a screw 50, the latter being in threaded engagement with the outer end of the arm 17. The bracket 48 is thus adjustably clamped between the head of the screw 50 and the lever arm 17. The outer end of the otherarm of bracket 48 is bifurcated, and the two arms or wings provided thereby partially encircle the pin 45, and take under the collar 46 to limit the downward movements 'of the pin 45 and attached saw-tooth plate or disc 44.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, to change threads, the thread clamping and. cutting mechanism is automatically actuated by the pattern mechanism (not shown) which elevates the lever arm 8 and depresses the other arm 17 thereby separating the shearing blades 24 and 26 as hereinbefore described, and at the same time opening the thread clamp 12 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The aforesaid movement of lever arm 1'1 lowers the bracket 48 a short distance thus permitting the freely mounted pin or shaft 45 to drop until the disc 44 rests upon the fabric, which movement of shaft 45 causes the binder plate 9 and saw-tooth plate 44 relatively to separate thereby positioning the finger 43 spaced from and above the saw-teeth in which relative position the projecting end 43' of the finger 43 is adapted to function as hereinafter more fully described to insure the carrying of the float thread of the withdrawn yarn into the binder to be thereafter severed and clamped. Upon elevation of a yarn lever 51 to the position indicated in Fig. 2 its thread '1' is raised to the position therein shown. In Fig. 1 the last needle knitting in the withdrawn yarn is shown at the position indicated by the numeral 52, and a float of the withdrawn yarn is shown passing therefromto the yarn lever 51. Continued rotation of the needle cylinder carries the said last needle from the position indicated at 52 to a second posi tion indicated at 53 from which position the thread floats to the lever 51 and directly beneath the projecting end 43' of the finger 43. As the beforementioned last needle continues torotate the projecting end 43' of the finger 43 engages j and depresses or holds down the thread float and causes it to be engaged between two adjacent teeth of the saw-tooth plate or disc 44. The said saw-tooth plate, freely mounted and turning with the forming fabric, carries the float in a circumferential direction around the binder plate and finally between the cutting blades 24 and 26 and beneath the clamping arm 13 as the said last needle moves from position 53 to position 54.

Thereafter the pattern mechanism releases the l lever 5 and permits the spring 14 to raise the lever arm 17 and thus sever the float of the thread T and, at the same time, clamp the portion of the float leading from the lever 51 to the clamp 12.

Referring specifically to Figs. 3, 4, 7, and 8, 3 upon release of the lever arm 8 by the pattern mechanism (not shown) spring 14 elevates the lever arm 17 and thereby the bracket 48,"the latter in turn engaging under the collar- 46 and raising the pin or shaft 45 and consequently the 3 saw-tooth plate or disc 44 to the relatively elevated position shown in Figs. 3, 4, 7, and 8, in which position the saw-tooth plate or disc ispre- .vented from turning with the rotating fabric by engagement of the teeth with the finger 43. The last named position of the parts of the binder mechanism is availed-of during the knitting of the high splice and double sole so that the high splice and double sole floats will, with certainty,

pass beneath the binder plate 9 and saw-tooth 1 plate or disc 44 and not inadvertently passo'ver the binder plate. The high splice and double sole or other lever 51 is controlled during the knitting of the high splice and double sole so as to be elevated from and lowered to feeding relation 1 with respect to the'needles, once for each course throughout the knitting of the said high splice and double sole. As the last needle knitting in the high splice reaches the position indicated by the numeral 55, a float of yarn leads therefrom to the raised lever 51 and thereafter as the needle cylinder revolves, the said floatis carried from the position indicated at 55 to a second position 56, the float at such time engaged or about tobe engaged by the projecting end 43' of the finger 43. Continued rotation of the needle cylinder carries the said last needle to the position 57 at which timethe high splice float leading from the raised lever 51 passes beneath the binder plate 9 and saw-tooth plate 44 directly across to the needle at 57. During the rotation of the said last needle from the position 55 to the position 57 the end 43' .of the finger 43 engages the float and prevents the latter from rising above the binder plate 9.

In the'foregoing. description the cooperative action of the finger 43 and saw-tooth plate 44 has been stressed, either to assist in the directing or guiding of threads withdrawn from feeding relation with respect to'the needles, for one or more complete courses, into the binder to be severed and clamped; or to prevent partial course floats, such as high splice and double sole floats, from passing above the binder plate'9 and by directing or guiding such partial course floats beneath or away from the said binder plate 9. However, either the finger 43 or the saw-tooth plate 44 may act alone and independently of the other, either to guide or direct threads, definitely withdrawn from feeding relation with respect to the needles, into the binder to be there severed and clamped; or to guide or direct partial course floats so as not to pass above the binder plate 9.

I claim:

1. A yarn or thread binder for knitting machines, a rotatable member in association therewith and adapted in one position to rotate with the fabric and during such rotation to carry or direct a thread withdrawn from feeding relation with respect to the needles to a position to be severed and clamped by means included in the binder, 'said member also being adapted to guide thread to such a position as not to be acted upon by the binder mechanism.

2. A yarn or thread binder for knitting machines, a rotatable member in association therewith and adapted in one position to rotate with the fabric and during such rotation to carry or direct a thread withdrawn from feeding relation with respect to the needles to a position be severed by means included in the binder, said member when in another position adapted to guide thread to a position away from the binder mechanism.

3. A yarn or thread binder for knitting machines, a member associated therewith and adapted when in one position to guide a partial course float of a thread away from mechanism included in the binder, the member when in another position being adapted to rotate with the fabric and during such rotation to carry a thread withdrawn for one or more complete courses from feeding relation with respect to the needles to a position to be severed by means included in the'binder;

4. A thread binder for use in circular knitting machines of the rotating needle type including a plate and means, carried thereby for severin and clamping threads, a member movable with the fabric, a thread guiding finger carried by the said plate and adapted to assist in guiding a withdrawn thread to a position to be severed and clamped by the mentioned means by causing such thread to be engaged by the aforesaid movable member and carried into the binder.

5. A thread binder for use in circular knitting machines of the rotating needle type, including a plate and means carried thereby for severing and clamping threads, a member movable with the fabric, a thread guiding finger adapted to assist in guiding a withdrawn thread to a position to be severed and clamped by the mentioned means by causing such thread to be engaged by the aforesaid movable member and carried into the binder.

6. A thread binder for use in circular knitting machines of the rotating needle type including a plate and means carried thereby for severing and clamping threads, a thread guiding finger as:- sociated with the binder and adapted to assist in guiding a withdrawn thread to a position to be severed and clamped by the mentioned means and adapted to direct partial course floats to a position away from the mechanism of the binder.

7. Thread severing and clamping mechanism for use in circular knitting machines including a member and means mounted thereon for severing and clamping a thread, in combination therewith a supplemental member adapted to me positioned adjacent to the member first mentioned and direct or guide a thread or threads to a position free of the aforesaid means, said supplemental member also adapted to be positioned in spaced relation ,with respect to the member first mentioned and, in such position, direct or guide athread or threads to a position to be severed and clamped by the aforesaid means. r 8. A thread binder consisting of a member having mounted thereon means for severing and clamping a thread or threads, supplemental means consisting of a member mounted in cooperative relation with the binder and including a shaft centrally received through the binder and movable axially to position the members adjacent to or spaced from each other, the member second mentioned adapted, when spaced from the member first mentioned, to move with the fabric and carry a withdrawn threadinto the binder, the member second mentioned when adjacent to the member first mentioned not being movable with the fabric.

9. A circular knitting machine, means for feeding threads to the needles thereof, a rotatable 10. Acircular knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, mechanism, mounted within the needle circle for severing and clamping a thread or threads withdrawn for one or more complete courses from feeding relation with respect to needles carried by the rotating cylinder, means freely mounted to rotate within the circle of needles and by engagement with the forming f abric, said means adapted to engage, and by its rotation, to carry the float of a thread withdrawn for one or morecomplete courses from feeding. relation with respect to the needles, to a position to be severed and clamped, the said means also adapted to guide the partial course floats away from the said thread clamping and cutting means.

11. A latch ring for circular knitting machines, a bracket carried thereby, a binder plate and mechanism for severing and clamping'threads. mounted on the bracket, a shaft movably mounted and free to turn in the bracket and adapted to assume either one of two positions, a plate having upstanding teeth, said plate being carried by the said shaft and turnable therewith, a member carried by the binder plate and adapted to co operate with the teeth of the second mentioned plate whereby to cause a float of a thread withdrawn from feeding relation with respect to the needles for one or more complete courses to be AUGUSTIN GAGNE. 

